The UK Government has granted approval for the development of Hornsea Project One, a 1.2 GW offshore wind farm to be located in the North Sea which will be the first in a possible 4 GW offshore wind farm zone.
The announcement came Wednesday from the office of the Secretary of State, and when the Hornsea project begins operation in 2020, it is expected to generate enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 800,000 UK homes.
The project is being developed by a consortium called SMartWind — made up of Mainstream Renewable Power, Siemens Financial Services, and DONG Energy.
“With around 2,500 local green jobs on the horizon, this is another great boost for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire,” said Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey. “Making the most of Britain’s home grown energy is crucial to creating job and business opportunities in the UK, getting the best deal for consumers and reducing our reliance on foreign imports. Wind power is vital to this plan, with £14.5bn invested since 2010 into an industry which supports 35,400 jobs.”
The Hornsea Project One is located in the Hornsea Zone, an area dedicated to the development of offshore wind energy that could eventually total 4 GW.
Located to the east of southern England, the Hornsea Zone claims to have the potential to meet the electricity needs of approximately 4% of all demand in the UK.
“SMart Wind are delighted with the grant of the DCO following a robust examination from the Planning Inspectorate,” said Andy Kinsella, Mainstream Renewable Power’s Chief Operating Officer. “Hornsea Project One is part of the essential new infrastructure that has driven major investment in the Humber economy and ensures a low carbon future for the area. Today’s announcement is testament to the world-class expertise of the Mainstream team who have been developing this project for the past six years.”
“Development consent for Hornsea Project One is very welcome,” said Benj Sykes, DONG Energy Vice President of UK Wind Power. “This is an exciting project that will be a world first in terms of its size and location, and it has the potential to power up to 800,000 UK homes.”
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